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I’m having so much fun with my at-home volunteer projects this month, and I’m sharing them with my readers for two reasons. First, you can do any of these projects with the residents of your senior living community. Second, I know many of you will enjoy doing these activities individually or as a family.
These are the organizations I’m supporting this month:
Cardz For Kidz
The name of this organization is a bit deceiving because they send cards to other people besides hospitalized children. These include veterans’ groups, senior living communities, and other nonprofit organizations. Cards go to people in all 50 states plus several other countries.
To take part, you create handmade cards, add a brief encouraging message, and then mail them in a bundle to Cardz For Kidz. You can also request cards to be sent to residents at your nursing home.
I don’t consider myself artistic, and I don’t own any fancy card-making tools. So, I ordered a greeting card kit from Amazon. The project was a lot of fun, and you can see some of my results in the photo at the top of this post.
Letters Against Isolation
I love when residents and staff can work together on a project. Here’s a perfect opportunity. I introduced you to Letters Against Isolation (LAI) back in March. This remains my favorite at-home volunteer project. However, I’m approaching it a bit differently this month.
LAI recruits volunteers to write letters to residents in a variety of senior living communities, including memory care. When writing to memory care residents, rather than writing a long letter, they encourage us to send pictures drawn by children along with a brief note.
This month, a friend is recruiting her two little nieces to draw pictures for my project. I’m also thinking it would be fun for you to ask the children or grandchildren of your nursing home staff to draw pictures. Residents could write a brief message on the back of each drawing, then choose a memory care location where they wish to send them.
Girls Love Mail
My first project for this month was writing letters to women newly diagnosed with breast cancer. Most of you know about my cancer diagnosis just over a year ago. I see this as a way I can pay it forward.
You don’t need to have experienced cancer personally in order to write letters for Girls Love Mail. All it takes is a heart to provide encouragement to someone facing a tough challenge.
I remember the preciousness of every card and letter I received from family and friends after my diagnosis. I think a program like Girls Love Mail would have provided an extra layer of support early in my cancer journey.
Any Refugee
In 2014, a 9-year-old boy came up with the concept of Any Refugee. The organization later became a part of Jesuit Refugee Service.
Last week, I created 36 postcards for Any Refugee. To take part, you simply decorate postcards, add brief notes of encouragement, then mail them to Jesuit Refugee Service. JRS will deliver the cards to refugees overseas in one of the 55 countries they serve.
I would love to hear your ideas for at-home volunteer projects. Please share in the comment sections!
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